The Sentinel

THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE SOCIETY FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER (SITC).

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Get to Know Sentinel Author: Christian Hyde, MD

Name: Christian Hyde, MD

Title: Radiation Oncologist, Diplomate of the American Board of Radiology

Employer: Cancer Treatment Centers of America, in the Southeastern Region

When and why did you become a SITC member?

I joined SITC a few years ago due to a long-standing interest in immunity. One of my earliest experiences with my immune system was at age 12 during a Boy Scout project in Utah clearing trails through the woods. I was exposed to poison oak, causing a mild rash on my legs and arms. When we went back a few weeks later, I volunteered to take care of all the poison oak bushes, thinking my prior exposure had inoculated me against it. I was dead wrong. A few days later I was in the doctor’s office with my face swollen up like a balloon and weepy sores all over my body. I had to take a cortisol injection to turn down my T-cell immune response which was attacking the poison oak antigens on my skin and even attacking areas where I wasn’t directly exposed. Needless to say, I learned a lot that day about the power of the immune system and how little I understood it, and that not all exposures are protective – in fact they can rev up the immune response. We see that with cancer immunotherapy.

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Get to Know Sentinel Author: Alexandra Cadena


Name: Alexandra Cadena
Cadena

Title: Research Intern

Employer: MD Anderson Cancer Center

When and why did you become a SITC member?

I became a SITC member about two years ago when I was a college student interning over the summer in the Experimental Rad Onc. Department at MD Anderson. My PI at the time encouraged me to submit an abstract to SITC on a retrospective study I did correlating tumor growth kinetics with response to immunotherapy. My abstract got accepted and I poster presented at National Harbor in 2015. After that experience, I truly fell in love with the SITC community and saw the field of immuno-oncology (IO) as the solution to shifting the scientific paradigm. What I most enjoy about being a SITC member is the diversity of talent the group draws from. I think they have really found an amazing balance of bringing all voices, from all different disciplines to the table to discuss advances in cancer immunotherapy. I find this refreshing in a world that constantly seeks to compartmentalizes and subspecialize what we know.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Get to Know Sentinel Author: Praveen Bommareddy

(Editor's Note: The Sentinel, the official blog of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, will provide SITC Members a digital space to share their expertise and experience being in or around the field of cancer immunotherapy. To introduce these member authors to readers of The Sentinel, SITC will be publishing Q&As in the coming days.)

Bommareddy
Name:
 Praveen K Bommareddy   
           
Title: PhD candidate

Employer: Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

When and why did you become a SITC member?

I became a SITC member in August 2016. I believe SITC is a great platform to get connected to many colleagues in the field of Cancer Immunotherapy and to be updated with the most recent advancements in cancer immunotherapy.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Get to Know Sentinel Author: Otto F. Sankey, PhD

(Editor's Note: The Sentinel, the official blog of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, will provide SITC Members a digital space to share their expertise and experience being in or around the field of cancer immunotherapy. To introduce these member authors to readers of The Sentinel, SITC will be publishing Q&As in the coming days.)

Name: Otto F. Sankey, PhD
Dr. Sankey

Title: Regents’ Professor of Physics

Employer: Emeritus, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ

When and why did you become a SITC member? 

I've been a member for 2 years as a prostate cancer advocate. There are no known cures for metastatic prostate cancer and immunotherapy has the potential for a cure.

Sunday, November 12, 2017

SITC 2017 Scientific Highlights - Nov. 11

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is pleased to present highlights from the Saturday programs (Nov. 11, 2017) of the 32nd Annual Meeting in National Harbor, Md. (Scroll to the bottom of this blog post to view the Glossary).



Dendritic cell acquisition of MHC I controls CD8+ T cell priming

Brandon MacNabb, BS (University of Chicago) presented data supporting the concept of MHC I antigen presentation by Batf3-lineage DCs as a critical component of CD8+-mediated anti-tumor response. Researchers initially generated H2-KbAB (MHC I+) and Kb-/-(MHC I-) C1498.SIY acute myeloid leukemia cell lines and subsequently engrafted C57BL/6 mice to determine the contribution of tumor cell MHC I presentation in CD8+ T cell priming. Initial assessment revealed reduced tumor growth in C1498.SIY KbAB mice compared to C1498.SIY Kb-/- mice. CD8+ T cell proliferation was also increased in KbAB mice compared to Kb-/- mice (p < 0.05). The observed C1498.SIY KbAB-dependent CD8+ proliferation was abolished in Batf3-/- C57BL/6 mice (p < 0.01). IFN-Ï’ secretion was also decreased in Batf3-/- KbAB mice, suggesting that Batf3 initiates CD8+ priming. Transfer of autologous T cells from KbAB tumor-bearing mice offered complete protection from tumor growth in tumor-free mice. Conversely, autologous T cells from Kb-/- mice offered no such protection. Interestingly, DCs isolated from the TME and the tumor-draining lymph node in tumor-positive mice had increased KbAB MHC I expression (p < 0.001), suggesting DC acquisition of tumor-derived MHC I. Ex vivo experiments confirmed that migratory KbAB DCs are capable of CD8+ priming. These data reveal the importance of Batf3-lineage DCs and tumor-derived MHC I presentation in CD8+ T cell activation of anti-tumor response, providing insight into potential development of DC-oriented therapies. 

On Tap at SITC 2017 - Nov. 12


On Tap Today

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is very happy to welcome our delegates for one more day of scientific exchange at the 32nd Annual Meeting.



Here's a look at what's on tap for today, and continue scrolling to learn about exciting news for the society in 2018.

Saturday, November 11, 2017

SITC 2017 Scientific Highlights - Nov. 10



The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is pleased to present highlights from the first day of the 32nd Annual Meeting in National Harbor, Md. (Scroll to the bottom of this blog post to view the Glossary)



Co-administration of novel anti-sMIC antibody increases anti-CTLA-4 therapeutic response in TRAMP/MIC mice (O22)

Jennifer Wu, PhD (Northwestern University, Chicago, IL) presented recently-published data investigating the efficacy of a novel antibody targeting the highly immunosuppressive human activation immune receptor natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) ligand, sMIC, with the goal of increasing anti-CTLA-4 therapeutic response. Using a TRAMP (transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate)/MIC mouse model, Wu’s group found that mice with increased circulation of tumor-derived sMIC receiving anti-CTLA-4 had ~25% decrease in survival over 8 weeks compared to mice receiving placebo (p < 0.05), as well as an increased risk of immune-related colitis. TRAMP/MIC mice receiving anti-CTLA-4 in combination with anti-sMIC had reduced prostate tumor burden (~0.25g vs ~6g, respectively; p < 0.001), increased DC activation, enhanced TCR/CD3 signaling, and increased T cell clonality in tumor infiltrates compared to mice receiving anti-CTLA-4 alone (P < 0.05). CR was observed in 4/5 combination-treated mice for at least 120 days post-therapy, with no cases of immune-related colitis. These pre-clinical anti-sMIC/anti-CTLA-4 data align with clinical observations in patients with mCRPC, melanoma and multiple myeloma who have demonstrated improved responses to anti-CTLA-4 therapy if they develop sMIC autoantibodies during the course of treatment. These results suggest that sMIC may act as a predictive biomarker for anti-CTLA-4 response. Furthermore, including anti-sMIC antibodies in CTLA-4-targeted therapies may reduce irAES and increase treatment efficacy.

On Tap at SITC 2017 - Nov. 11


On Tap Today

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is pleased to host our delegates this week in National Harbor, Md. at the 32nd Annual Meeting & Pre-Conference Programs. Excitement continues as we look forward to toward another incredible day of scientific presentations at the Annual Meeting.

Here's a look at what's on tap for today.

Friday, November 10, 2017

On Tap at SITC 2017 - Nov. 10


On Tap Today

The wait is over! The 32nd Annual Meeting (SITC 2017) kicks off this morning. On-site registration and badge pickup opens at 7 a.m. for those who are joining us for the first time this week, with a breakfast also available before sessions begin at 8 a.m.

SITC 2017 is the first Annual Meeting for Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD, as President of the society. Dr. Butterfield had served as Vice President of SITC the past two years before becoming the first female President of SITC in its history following last year's Annual Meeting.

Thursday, November 9, 2017

On Tap at SITC 2017 - Nov. 9


The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) welcomes delegates joining us for the first time in National Harbor, Md. today. We have a full slate of programming reaching to all backgrounds and experience levels.

On Tap Today

Thursday's concurrent Pre-Conference Programs provide clinicians and researchers educational programming on the basics of tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy, single cell techniques in immunology and grant writing support for early career scientists.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

On Tap at SITC 2017 - Nov. 8, 2017

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is pleased to welcome our delegates to the 32nd Annual Meeting & Pre-Conference Programs! We are thankful for the throngs of member leaders and faculty who dedicated so many hours to ensure the SITC Annual Meeting continues being the premier destination for research in the field of cancer immunotherapy.

On Tap Today


Wednesday kicks off the week's proceedings with the first day of Pre-Conference Programs. Once attendees complete registration to pick up badges and materials, they'll be joining the following sessions:

Immuno-Oncology Biomarkers: Today’s Imperatives for Tomorrow’s Needs

8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. / Cherry Blossom Ballroom

The SITC Industry Committee has developed a Biomarkers Fair to allow companies and interested academic investigators to present their latest technology. This forum will provide the opportunity for presentation of multiple biomarker development efforts by all sectors and stimulate interactions between biomarker diagnostic innovators with each other and with end-users.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Access SITC 2017 Abstracts

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) received a record-breaking number of abstracts in 2017 for its Annual Meeting, marking a 21 percent increase in submissions compared to last year. To fulfill the society’s commitment to featuring cutting-edge science, two abstract submission periods allowed the latest research to be incorporated into the 32nd Annual Meeting. Researchers submitted more than 560 regular abstracts, and an additional 30 late-breaking abstracts were received from investigators whose studies made key data cuts after Aug. 1.  


Monday, November 6, 2017

Welcome to The Sentinel, SITC’s New Official Blog

On behalf of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), I am pleased to introduce to you The Sentinel, our new official blog.

It has long been a goal of SITC’s to provide a space online for members to network and share their wealth of knowledge with the greater cancer immunotherapy community on everything from the basic science to the biggest challenges facing our field.